high school; jfg

18%

"Mahlia, come look at the tree!" I groan because Rachel is a morning person.

I sigh and get up.

"Rachel, I wish you weren't a morning person." I say. She laughs and I roll my eyes. I put some socks on and walk downstairs to see a scrawny tree.

"What is that?" I ask my dad.

"It's our tree." He says with a smile. I walk over to it and smell it.

"Why the hell do we have a fake tree!?" My dad and I always had a real tree. Now we have some fucking fake tree. #thanksrachel.

"Mahlia! Language!" Rachel says.

"Stop cussing so much, damn." My dad says. I roll my eyes.

"Why do we have a fake tree?" I ask again.

"Well, Rachel thought it would be good if we had a fake tree and- oh! We have something to tell you." He says excitedly. I scoff while looking at Rachel.

"I'll be right back." My dad says. He goes upstairs and I sit on the small couch.

"Okay, I don't know you that well but Christmas is my favorite holiday and we always had a real tree. What the fuck is that? If you're trying to ruin Christmas, you're doing pretty well." I say.

"Oh mahlia, don't get mad now, we have a great surprise!" She says. My dad comes downstairs with his computer, a house is on the screen, a nice, big house.

"That's nice." I say.

"I'm glad you like it, that's where we'll be moving after January." Rachel says. I choke on air. Everything is happening to me, 1 my boyfriend is leaving, 2 I'm moving away from everyone I love.

"Why?!" I close my eyes and wait for my dads answer.

"Well, you said you hated this place a-" I cut him off.

"That was before I met my friends!" I yell.

"Mahlia, let me finish. We need more space, we're getting a dog and you might have a younger brother or sister." My dad says. I get off of the couch and run upstairs. I slam my door and get some clothes. [clothes up top]

I put the clothes on and put my uggs on. I put my hair in a bun and text Jack.

Mahlia: can I come over like let me pls

Jack: yeah but you have to come pick out a tree with us

Mahlia: dude idc what we do I'm coming over

Jack: lol okay

I put my phone in my jacket pocket and walk downstairs. I ignore my dad and Rachel.

"Mahlia, where are you going?" My dad asks.

"Bitch, don't even talk to me." I mumble. I hear him sigh and I grab my keys.

"I'll be back later." I walk out and get in my car and drive to jacks house. I park my car where I usually park it and get out. I lock the car and walk up to his door and ring the doorbell.

"Hey mahlia!" David says with a smile.

"Hi David, where's Jack?" I ask politely. He points to the dining room and I take off my shoes and sit next to him.

"Hi." I say.

"Hi, are you sure you want to go get a tree?" He asks me.

"Yeah, I just needed to get out of that house." I say.